Residence and employment permits are granted mainly on a temporary basis and for a specified work position.

The Civil Registry and Migration Department is the competent authority for the first issuance and subsequent renewal of residence permits granted to all non-Cypriots either self-employed or employed by legal persons in Cyprus. The Civil Registry and Migration Department acts in consultation with other competent authorities such as the Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver, the Labour Department of the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance and the Cyprus Police.

Employment of EU Citizens

EU citizens may enter the Republic without an employment contract and search for work for a period of 4 months before applying for a Registration Certificate for EU citizens to the Civil Registry and Migration Department.

The application for issuance of a Registration Certificate of a Union citizen and his/her family members who are also EU citizens (MEU1) is to be submitted by hand to the PSC Cyprus’ office or to the Civil Registry and Migration Department (CRMD) - for residents of Nicosia district - or the district Migration Offices the Police for all other districts, along with:

the original identity card or passport,

two passport-sized photographs (t is noted that photographs are now captured during the application submission process at the CRMD and the district Migration Offices, with the exception of PSC Cyprus where applications received are forwarded immediately to the CRMD through internal mail),

confirmation of engagement by the employer or certificate of employment for employed activity or certificate of registration to the Social Insurance Services as self-employed, and

the application fee of €20,00 for the Union Citizen and €20,00 for each family member, citizen of a Member State.

The registration certificate is issued immediately.

Employment of non-EU citizens at companies of foreign interests

In order for companies of foreign interest, including former offshore companies and Cyprus shipping companies, to employ third country nationals in Cyprus, the following must apply:

the majority of the company’s shareholders should be third country nationals and in the case of shareholders whose ultimate owners are foreign companies their final owners (natural persons who are the ultimate beneficial owners) should be declared, in order to receive the approval of the Civil Registry and Migration Department;

in case where the percentage of foreign participation in the share capital of a company is equal or below fifty percent (50%) of the total share capital, this percentage should represent an amount equal or higher than €171.000.

For the full requirements please read the document "BCS Documents for Checking Company Suitability" in the "Related Documents".

Eligible companies which fulfil the above conditions may employ third country nationals in the following positions:

Please note that companies should not commit themselves to employing third country nationals for all the following positions before securing a Temporary Residence and Employment Permit from the Civil Registry and Migration Department (CRMD).

A) Directors

The term ‘Directors’ includes third country nationals registered as:

Directors or Partners (registered as such in the Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver);

General Managers of branches and subsidiaries of alien companies;

Departmental Managers

The minimum acceptable gross monthly salary for Directors is €3.872, an amount that may be adjusted from time to time, depending on fluctuations in the wage index.

The maximum number of employees permitted in this category is five (5). The CRMD has the discrete authority to decide on the employment of more than five (5) people*.

B) Middle-management staff, executive staff and any other key personnel

In this category the following third country nationals are included:

Upper / middle management personnel,

Other administrative, secretarial or technical staff

The minimum acceptable gross monthly salary for this category is between €1936 - €3871. Amounts may be adjusted from time to time, depending on wage index fluctuations.

The maximum number of employees permitted in this category is ten (10). The CRMD has the discrete authority to decide on the employment of more than ten (10) people*.

C) Supporting Staff

All third country nationals not included in the above categories.

Companies are expected to fill in positions in this category with Cypriot or European citizens. In the case where there are no qualified Cypriots or European citizens available, a company may employ third country nationals in posts in this category by following the procedure and submitting the certificates/ supporting documents/ documents described in the list of accompanying documents, after first securing the positive recommendation (sealed employment contract) of the Department of Labour.

There is no maximum number for the employment of third country nationals under this category, provided that the necessary approvals from the Department of Labour have been obtained. No approval from the Department of Labour is needed for third county nationals who enjoy free access to the labour marker.

*For employing a greater number of third country personnel under the above categories, duly justified and documented requests by the company must be submitted to the Department (CRMD). The requests must include information on the salary offered as well as:

The company’s turnover;

The ratio of third country employees to Cypriots / EU Nationals; and

The company's operating time in Cyprus.

It is stressed that the requests should only concern specific persons whose employment is considered necessary by the company. General requests on the matter cannot be considered.

Foreign companies may approach private employment agencies for recruiting suitable staff. In addition local unemployed staff may be found through the Department of Labour while EU staff may be found through EURES, the European Job Mobility Portal.

Moreover, you may also visit the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance to find out more information regarding the procedure for the employment of non EU citizens.